Blue solace complete ser.., p.55
Blue Solace: Complete Series Boxset, page 55
“Could they be turned to our side like Death?” asked Finn, Hack’s lieutenant.
“I don’t think so,” Hack said. “Death has Wyatt as a connection to us. His situation is also a little unique. He isn’t just Death. He’s also Dr. Morrick.”
“If we can’t control them, and they won’t willingly ally with us, why wouldn’t we kill them?” Finn shrugged. “If they were any other species and had committed the acts they have, we would have executed them.”
“Technically, we did,” Dru said, stroking Monty’s head. The newt was perched on her shoulder. “We just need to take that extra step and make it permanent.”
“Bringing them back would mean doing the rituals too,” said Lucas, Draif’s lieutenant. “That means killing two people and ripping their souls from their bodies.” He shuddered.
“Excellent point,” Fasi said. He huffed a breath out. “I’ll talk to everyone today, but I am certainly leaning toward a permanent ending for those two. The Council is split on the issue, but I’m the one making the decision.”
“I’ll get Sebastian to send you the accounts he already translated,” Alois said. “Read a few of them to the Council, and that will convince them.”
Fasi nodded. “Alright. The next topic we wanted to discuss is the Half-Moon Assassins Guild. Guild Leader Beol has agreed to move to Charybdis Station and integrate his guild with our station. We have a plan but are still arguing the details. Again, the Council is divided.”
“Beol is good people,” Dru said, stroking her new vibro-blade – a reluctant gift from Beol.
“He’s an assassin though,” Beck said. “What if someone pays him to kill someone on Charybdis Station?”
“One of the provisions that we’ve already agreed on prevents him from taking a contract for any Charybdis Station citizen,” Renee said.
“It’s seems like a potential political nightmare,” Draif said. “What happens when their enemies decide they’re now Charybdis Station’s enemies?” He thought for a moment. “The income from their guild would be good for the station though.”
Fasi gave them a funny smile. Alois frowned. His leader had a secret. “I’m working on convincing Beol to agree to a few things that will allow them to settle in well. We’ll come back to that, though if you have any ideas, send them my way. The Half-Moon Assassins are coming to the station. That’s not up for argument. They’ve already agreed to work with us against the Queen and her elements in exchange for a new home. Wolfe’s team is in the Crellic System, keeping an eye on the Queen on Genarg. They’ve also agreed to provide us with their tech.”
“Oh,” Beck said, eyes widening. “They have some damn fine shields. You should definitely let them live here, Lord Admiral.”
Fasi laughed. “We know where your heart is, Beck.”
Renee cleared her throat, sending Beck a fond look. “That brings us to our next topic. Fasi has been in constant discussion with the leaders of each planet in our system. All of the planets in Anchor’s Rest are joining together to defend the system.” Alois’s jaw dropped, and everyone in the room seemed just as shocked as he was. While the planets got along fairly well, this was a huge step.
“Together, we will form a unit called the Anchor’s Rest Defense Force,” Fasi said. “Each planet, including us, will send soldiers to man it. The primary goal of this force will be to keep the planets in Anchor’s Rest safe.”
“What happens when two planets decide to go to war,” Draif asked. “It would need to be a completely neutral body to be effective.”
“Yes,” Fasi agreed. “It would. If war was to happen, the leader of this force would have to maintain the peace among his soldiers. It wouldn’t be an easy task.”
“At this time, we are taking the first initial step, which is to send fleets to patrol the borders of our system,” Renee said. “We know the Queen and the Concords will come. We just don’t know when or how.”
“What changed?” Hack tilted his head and watched his parents. “What made our system ready to do this?”
“Tammol,” Morgan said.
Alois nodded. They both had been on the planet when Water and the Concords took it.
Morgan swallowed hard and held Stardust close to his chest, stroking his little head. “It was so easy for the Concords to slip in and steal a planet. Haven and Burnished Hold don’t have strong defenses like some of the others.”
“Even Grellweir and Siren’s Lament could be taken if the force were large enough and they had no allies,” Selene said.
Renee nodded. “You’re right. The situation on Tammol frightened a lot of planetary governments in the galaxy. Our system isn’t likely to be the only one that bands together.”
“For now, Hack, I’m asking each of the generals to ask for volunteers to man the ships going to the Defense Force,” Fasi said. “Start asking around, please. It’ll be at least another year before we have it up and running, but I want to have a number of volunteers ready.”
“Got it,” Hack said, nodding.
“This means that we can focus on defeating the Queen and the Concords, doesn’t it?” Draif asked. “If we don’t have to worry as much about protecting the system, our focus can go to the bigger picture.”
“Yes,” Renee said, smiling. “We have Cas and the Green fleet searching the galaxy for Air and Fire and collecting any prisoners rescued from Concord ships. Beol’s people are using their contacts to hunt them as well. We do know they aren’t on Genarg.”
“Audre and the Yellow fleet are focused on the Concords,” Fasi said. “That leaves Hack and Sheiria’s fleets at the station’s disposal.” He nodded. “That’s what we have going on, folks.” Ava raised her hand, and Fasi smacked his hand to his face. “I almost forgot. Ava, do you want to tell them?”
She stood and grinned. “Several diplomats from the station have been reaching out to the other mercenary groups. At this moment, ten groups have allied with us against the Concords. They are picking them off, one by one, and sending any rescued prisoners to Cas. He sends them either home or to Tammol.” The room cheered. “We are still in talks with five other groups, and things are progressing well.”
“What about the Queen?” asked Dannol, Hack’s pilot. “Will they fight against her too?”
“Most will,” Ava said. “They understand that she is behind the Concords’ behavior.”
“What will they get out of it?” Dannol asked. “Mercenaries fight for pay.”
“They get anything they find on the Concord ships, including the ships,” Ava said. “The only exception are the Concords’ prisoners.” She smiled softly. “To be honest, these ten groups are fighting because of what the Concords are doing to non-human species.” She shot Fasi a fond look. “I think our Lord Admiral has inspired his old friends.”
Fasi was flustered, the large purple Grell blushing. “Well, that’s it for today. Get back to work or back to your time off.”
Renee darted straight to Nina. “Hey there, pretty girl,” she said and took the baby from Dru. “You’re growing like a weed. Yes, you are.” She looked at Alois. “How’s Sebastian doing?”
“He’s recovered and back to work,” Alois said happily.
Renee shook her head. “No. I mean has he settled into the station? He’s been having a lot of trouble accepting that he’s part of our family now. He’s also been worried about contributing to Charybdis Station.”
“That’s stupid,” Dru said, frowning. “The man has worked his ass off alongside Leti and Shae. They figured the artifacts out and are still providing us with important information.”
“I know that,” Renee said. “You know that, and Alois, here, knows that. Sebastian, however, doesn’t.”
“I didn’t know he was struggling so much,” Alois said, feeling guilty as hell. “We talked almost every day while I was gone, and he didn’t say anything about it.” He sighed. “He wouldn’t though, would he?”
“No,” Renee said. “Work on it, Alois. He’s a good man, and our station is better off for having him here. He needs to learn that.” She kissed Nina’s head and passed her to Alois.
Fasi joined them and hugged his son. Hack’s feet left the ground, and he whined. “Dad, stop. Everyone’s watching.”
“Oh, Willard,” Dru said. “You just hush and give your daddy a hug.”
“I hate you, Dru. So much,” Hack said.
Fasi just laughed and set his son on his feet. He turned to Alois and draped an arm over his shoulder. “I need to speak with you, Alois.” He steered him toward a more secluded spot.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Fasi said. “We spent a couple weeks with Nina and Sebastian.” He looked hesitant. “I think you need to talk to him about mates.”
“He knows we’re mates,” Alois said, puzzled.
“I gathered that from your kiss at the spaceport,” Fasi said dryly. “I mean, I think you need to explain that being mates doesn’t mean you automatically live happily ever after. That takes time, luck, and work.”
“What are you talking about?” Alois frowned. Being mates did mean you automatically fell in love and lived happily ever after.
Fasi’s eyes softened. “Your parents weren’t life-mates?”
“No,” Alois said and left it at that.
“A life-mate is someone that you are predisposed to connect well with. Sometimes two people just suit each other perfectly. Look at Hack and Leti and then Morgan and Wyatt. It happened fast for both couples, and they settled right in, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t take understanding and compromises,” Fasi said. “The only thing having a life-mate guarantees is a chance. It doesn’t guarantee happiness.”
Alois was flabbergasted. “A mate won’t cheat on you though, right?”
Fasi took his hand. “A life-mate is the person that you’re best suited for, Alois, but he or she still has free will. When we were with Sebastian, I got the feeling he thought life-mates were an instant fix-it-all. He was scared to death that you wouldn’t be mates, so he didn’t understand that his love for you was far more important than that kiss you shared. It may have said you were mates, but it’s not what makes him look at you like you’ve hung the stars.”
Alois took a deep breath and thought about Sebastian. Alois loved him before he knew they were mates, not because they were mates. He knew he could trust Sebastian not to betray him. Wasn’t that just what he’d been thinking a few days ago? This didn’t change anything, not really. He let his breath out slowly. Why did it feel like his world had fallen apart?
Chapter 5
An hour after Alois and Nina left, Sebastian finished translating the last page of the historical account. He shut the book with a thunk and sat back in his chair, thinking. His communicator chimed, and he looked at the caller. Nope, he thought. He rejected it, then pushed the historical book aside and pulled out his favorite Crellic book. He really should tell Leti about it, but the book was absolutely fascinating. It was a training guide for a beginning Shaman.
The short book highlighted the basics of Crellic Shamanism. He opened it and began at the first page. Again. He’d read it front to back six times since he’d finished translating it, and the book was starting to make sense. Crellic Shamanism was instinctual to begin with. The book hinted at more complex ideas in advanced training, but it claimed the hardest step was the first one – awakening to the spirit world. Not every Crell was able to do it, and Sebastian wasn’t even the right species.
There were symbols to use that helped, but without the intent and the primitive connection between the soul and the galaxy around him, they weren’t worth much. He’d drawn them over and over, but nothing ever came of it. He always felt foolish trying. It was one thing to know the Queen was an ancient Crellic shaman and another to really believe in the Crells’ religious philosophy. As ridiculous as it made him feel, he was starting to believe.
He pushed the book away and closed his eyes, trying to feel it. He’d felt something last time he’d tried. Mustachio hummed in the background. His bird liked to sing and hum, and it helped Sebastian focus. He settled into the hum, sinking into it and searching for the threads of the spirit world the guide mentioned. He stayed like that for a while, searching. He let his mind float, free of worry and logic.
Then he saw it. A thin, silver thread flowed from him to Mustachio. He knew his eyes were shut, but he still saw it. He saw the room around him and the threads joining everything together. The wood of the table and the floors, the metals of the appliances, the green and brown threads of his potted ivy, the magnificent complex beauty of Mustachio. He felt the elements around him, not the Queen’s elements, but the elements that built the galaxy.
His fingers moved on the table, tracing the symbols he had memorized months ago – earth, water, air, fire, life, and death. His thread poured from his fingers and into the table, and he heard a sizzle. His eyes flew open, and he stared at the overlapping symbols seared into the table. They were exactly like the symbols on the cover of the book.
“What the fuck?” His voice startled him and Mustachio both. He looked at the bird. “What did I do? How did I do that?”
Sebastian took a breath and tried again. His mind settled faster this time, but Mustachio’s humming still helped. He pushed his senses out of the room and moved through the neighborhood, blushing when he touched on Silas and Rune. They weren’t just snuggling this time. He moved on quickly and pushed down, moving through the station. The engineering of Charybdis Station was impressive with normal sight. Looking at it through the spirit world made it all the more fascinating. The elements twisted and danced together to create this place, and the engineers led them, minds beyond amazing.
“What are you doing?”
The voice startled him, and he was back in his body again. He turned around in his chair. Dr. Morrick/Death stood in the kitchen doorway. His black eyes were intense and focused squarely on Sebastian.
“Do you know what you’re doing, Sebastian?” He was very much Death at that moment.
“Kind of,” he said, squeaking. “I translated this beginner’s guide to Crellic Shamanism. It’s amazing, Dr. Morrick.”
“It is,” Death agreed. “It’s also very dangerous.”
“Are you a shaman? I know the Queen is,” Sebastian said.
“I’m not,” Death said. “Because of our very existence, the Queen’s elements cannot practice it. Being around her all the time allowed us to gather quite a bit of knowledge on the topic. Each of us can connect to the spirit world, but that is it.”
“I can’t believe I did that,” Sebastian said, tracing the symbol on the table.
“I can,” Death said and sat across from him. “You’re very smart and open-minded, and you’ve been reading Ancient Crellic for months now. The training begins by honing your instinct.”
“I’m not that smart,” Sebastian said. He watched Death for a minute. “Do you think you could teach me?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“What I saw, all around us, was beautiful and precious,” Sebastian said. “At the same time, it was so fragile.”
“That’s the difference between being a planet and a space station,” Death said. “When you open your mind to a planet, it is… I can’t even describe the strength.”
“I want Charybdis Station to have that,” Sebastian said. “I could feel it, and the station wants it too. It wants to live.”
“I think that is beyond you and me,” Death said softly. “We could make it stronger by protecting it though.”
“I can do that,” Sebastian said, nodding. He needed to find a purpose and to help Charybdis Station.
“I’ll teach you what I can,” Death said. “Remember, though, I’ve never practiced, so I don’t know how this will work.”
“Why do you want to help? You said it was dangerous, and it’s not like I’ll learn fast enough to ever compete with the Queen,” Sebastian said.
Death picked up the historical book Sebastian had finished that morning. “You read about us, right?”
“Yes,” Sebastian said. “You were mostly an ominous presence in the Queen’s tower.”
He smiled and laughed. “That sounds about right.” His smile faded. “Fire is innocent. I don’t know how he stayed that way. I don’t understand how or why he is the way he is, but I don’t want to kill him.”
“You want to save him,” Sebastian said. “I can’t say that I blame you. I’ve been compiling all the pictures I can find of his collar. It looks like she uses the same binding ritual each time.”
“You want to save him too,” Death said, smiling again. “You are so much like your cousin, Sebastian.”
Sebastian blushed. “I read about all of you. Fire was different. He spent his time racing across the deserts and stole food off people’s plates when he visited the villages. He never willingly harmed a single person.”
“When the Queen was resurrected, she called us back, giving us our new bodies. We knew immediately that she was different. It broke something in Earth,” Death said. “He lost her when they tainted her soul, and he knew it. He became her servant but lost his life-mate. Of course, Life, Air, and Water were ecstatic with the change. She sent them out to terrorize her opponents, and they fucking loved it.”
“How did you react?”
“I was indifferent,” Death said. “I had always been so numb, so frozen.”
“Fire?”
“He was scared,” Death said. “He saw what we all did, and he ran. She pulled him back and bound him like a slave. He fought it. Every day, every second that he lived. I know he fights it now.”
“We have to help him,” Sebastian said, pulling up the pictures of Fire’s collar on his tablet.
His communicator chimed, and he frowned at the interruption. He didn’t recognize the caller this time. “Um, hello?”
“Sebastian Dolarnio?” A man’s face filled the air above the comm.
“Yes?”
“My name is Dr. Advaith Chopra. I’m a professor at a private university on Vextonar.”
